In the sordid tradition of peddling raunchy video footage of celebrities a la Paris Hilton, a long-buried sex movie of Marilyn Monroe recently hit the market, a top collector told The Post.
Marilyn Monroe Photo Gallery
An illicit copy of the steamy, still-FBI-classified reel - 15 minutes of 16mm film footage in which the original blond bombshell performs oral sex on an unidentified man - was just sold to a New York businessman for $1.5 million, said Keya Morgan, the well-known memorabilia collector who discovered the film and brokered its purchase.
The footage appears to have been shot in the 1950s. When it came to light in the mid-'60s, then-FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover had his agents spend two weeks futilely trying to prove that Monroe's sex partner was either John F. Kennedy or Robert F. Kennedy, according to declassified agency documents and interviews, Morgan said.
The silent black-and-white flick shows Monroe on her knees in front of a man whose face is just out of the shot.
He never moves into the shot, indicating that he knew the camera was there, but Monroe never looks at the lens, said Morgan, who saw the footage.
Morgan said he discovered the film while doing research for a documentary on Monroe, after talking with a former FBI agent who told him about a confidential informant who tipped G-men to the existence of the film in the mid-'60s.
The feds eventually confiscated the original footage - but not before the informant made a copy of it, which is what was just sold by his son, Morgan said.
There are heavily redacted, declassified FBI documents talking about a "French-type" film.
They state the informant "exhibited [to agents] a motion picture which depicted deceased actress Marilyn Monroe committing a perverted act upon a unknown male," Morgan said.
The informant was with at least one mobster at the time, the documents state.
According to the documents, "Former baseball star Joseph DiMaggio in the past had offered [the informant] $25,000 for this film, it being the only one in existence, but he refused the offer.
"Source advised that [redacted name of the mole] informed them that he had obtained this film prior to the time Marilyn Monroe had achieved stardom."
Morgan said he got the deceased informant's name from the former FBI agent who tipped him off to the flick - and was floored after he found the mole's son in Washington, DC, and the man retrieved a film canister from a safe-deposit box and spooled it up.
"You see instantly that it's Marilyn Monroe - she has the famous mole," Morgan said.
"She's smiling, she's very charming, she's very radiant, but she's known for being radiant," he said. "She moves away, and then it [the footage] stops."
Last month, he brokered its sale, leading the informant's son to a wealthy New York businessman who wants to keep this unseemly part of Monroe's past buried.
"He said he's just going to lock it up," Morgan said.
"He said, 'I'm not going to make a Paris Hilton out of her. I'm not going to sell it, out of respect.' "
Death: art's final taboo
While artists have always explored aspects of mortality, there has been a recent surge in exhibitions – from starving dogs to photographs of terminally ill people – that dare to examine the subject as never before. Andrew Johnson reports
Sunday, 20 April 2008
It was, perhaps, only a matter of time before contemporary art's obsession with death led to its natural conclusion: an exhibit featuring the act of dying.
The German artist Gregor Schneider is looking for volunteers who are willing to die in an art gallery for his latest work, according to the Art Newspaper. And in Nicaragua, a Costa Rican artist has created a storm of hostility by apparently tying up a dog in a gallery and leaving it to starve to death as a work of art. Schneider, who is known for his macabre sculptures of dark, foreboding houses and bodies lying prone with plastic bags on their heads, and who has represented Germany at the Venice Biennale, said: "I want to display a person dying naturally in the piece or somebody who has just died. My aim is to show the beauty of death. I am confident we will find people to take part."
The modern public's appetite for real death can be seen in the runaway success of Günther von Hagens's Body World's exhibition – in which real cadavers are preserved in varying states of dissection and which has been seen by 25 million people globally. It is currently showing in Manchester where it has already pulled in 100,000 visitors since February.
At the Wellcome Collection in London there is currently a moving display of portraits of ordinary people pictured before and after death by the German photographers Walter Schels and Beate Lakotta.
Meanwhile, animal rights activists have been in uproar over the fate of Natividad, a street dog captured by the artist Guillermo Vargas, otherwise known as Habacuc. Natividad was allegedly tied to a piece of string in a Nicaraguan gallery without food or water and left to starve to death late last year in a work called Eres lo que lees (You are what you read). The artist said the work was a comment on the thousands of street dogs that starve to death in Central America each year, but the US animal rights group the Humane Society said, as far as it could establish, the animal was fed and watered, and displayed for just three hours before it escaped.
Artists' interest in mortality can be seen in work from Hans Holbein's 16th-century The Ambassadors, in which a skewed skull comments on the vanity of the sitters, to Damien Hirst's recent diamond encrusted skull.
The art critic Brian Sewell said: "Schneider's idea is part of a new examination of death, following on from Günther von Hagens, which has popularised the macabre and bizarre. There is no doubt that the photographs at the Wellcome are based on sculpture, however. People say that death is the last taboo, and we talk about it in euphemism. It has very long roots in art, but is not as celebrated as the examination of beauty or youth."
And writing this week about Schneider's planned art work, Sewell wrote: "Can such a disquieting thing be art? Should it, indeed, be done in a civilised society? Perhaps so."
I looked this up after reading about Guillermo Vargas' art exhibit last year, and how he's been invited to do it again. If you have a facebook you might want to read about that, that's the really fucked up news that caught my attention in the first place.
I've been surrounded by artists for a big part of my life-- I go to an arts school, my boyfriend is majoring in art and wants to do it for the rest of his life.. and yet it's sad that this kind of art is competing to be in the same qualification of art my friends produce. Sure, it was only a stray dog, but I just think that using death to symbolize death isn't the right thing to do. I know the dog story is a lot different from this story, but since both are involving death for art in order to make a point, I figured I'd post them.
From what I get of that article, the dog didn't actually die in that exhibition.
The artist said the work was a comment on the thousands of street dogs that starve to death in Central America each year, but the US animal rights group the Humane Society said, as far as it could establish, the animal was fed and watered, and displayed for just three hours before it escaped.
The modern public's appetite for real death can be seen in the runaway success of Günther von Hagens's Body World's exhibition – in which real cadavers are preserved in varying states of dissection and which has been seen by 25 million people globally.
I think this is one hell of an assumption to make. Does this mean that everybody who goes to Med. school is only interested in death as well? Could we maybe assume people are actually interested in the Biology and not the fact that the people are dead?
From what I get of that article, the dog didn't actually die in that exhibition.
That I'm actually not sure about either. In that article it said that the dog escaped, but there are other articles (there are links on the facebook page) that have quotes from Vargas saying the dog actually died the day after the exhibit due to the lack of food, but that he would have died anyway since he was sick and didn't want to eat in the first place.
Because facebook is an awesome place to go for up-to-date news...
The whole thing smacks of publicity attempt. If he really wanted the dog to stay there and die, it would've been secured with something far more sturdy than string.
Pretty half-arsed as art goes, by my reckoning, but a savvy bit of media manipulation.
He's just a failure as an artist saying "Hey, look what I can do without hopefully getting in trouble!...Buy something from me!"
There's a fine line between art and obscenity for many people. For this case, that's just obscenity to me. Art is about creating, using the world around you, and expressing yourself with colors and shapes. It's not about taking something that already exists, and throwing it in a display case.
For the dog, as far as I can tell from Mish, you said it was really sick anyways? And it wouldn't want to eat anyways? Then that's fine, if that's true. It's like having an aneorexic person die of starvation, then having their parents get sued for not feeding them.
I'll be honest and say that if I was dying I would totally be in the dude's show. Death is extremely profound, and important, because it really is something affects everyone. No matter what, our mortality is always there, and I think it's great that that Gregor is willing to put it up in everyone's face like that. I don't think he'll have any shortage of volunteers, either.
The problem is looking at it from the audience point of view. I don't know about you, but I certainly am not interested in watching people die. I had a nightmare where that happened to me once. It was the worst thing I've ever experienced. Ever. I did nothing the next day and did not sleep at all the next night. That was just a dream that did that. I cannot fathom how people could want to see such a thing in real life. It's downright traumatic. I wouldn't know whether to call it murder or suicide, but by my principles it would be very wrong either way.
Furthermore, I'm in agreement that this is not art. This is a little more than a cheap attempt to shock people and gain a lot of publicity. The art value is roughly equivalent to turning the Rick Roll thing into a screamer video thing. Only using death instead of pure annoyance.
Art fuckers. If what you created did not require talent, it's not art. End of debate.
As for death... I really can't deal with that right now. I think that living an average of 80 years already is way too short, there's just way too much to experience and learn in the world. I have too much I want to do, and I don't want to think about not having the time to do it.
You know, there are two universal truths about life. Everyone dies, and everyone pays taxes. Why doesn't he do some modern art about taxes? Show the beauty of...tax.
Arizona schools whose courses "denigrate American values and the teachings of Western civilization" could lose state funding under the terms of legislation approved Wednesday by a House panel.
SB1108 also would bar teaching practices that "overtly encourage dissent" from those values, including democracy, capitalism, pluralism and religious tolerance. Schools would have to surrender teaching materials to the state superintendent of public instruction, who could withhold state aid from districts that broke the law.
Another section of the bill would bar public schools, community colleges and universities from allowing organizations to operate on campus if it is "based in whole or in part on race-based criteria," a provision Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, said is aimed at MEChA, the Moviemiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, a student group.
The 9-6 vote by the Appropriations Committee sends the measure to the full House.
The legislation appears aimed largely at the Tucson Unified School District, whose "Raza Studies" program has annoyed some people. Tucson resident Laura Leighton read lawmakers sections of some books used in classrooms which she said promote hatred.
If the proposal becomes law, however, it would have a statewide reach. And that concerned even some lawmakers who voted for it, saying the language of what would and would not be prohibited is "vague."
Tucson school officials have said the program under fire has helped Hispanic students improve their academic achievement by building pride and focusing on their cultural heritage.
But Pearce, who crafted the measure, said the program doesn't stop there. He said taxpayers are funding "hate speech paid for by tax dollars."
And Pearce said some of the teachings amount to "sedition" by suggesting that the current border between the United States and Mexico disappear, with Mexico - and Hispanics - taking over the American Southwest.
Leighton had specific problems with a text called "Occupied America," a book touted by its publisher as examining Chicano history from the coming of the Spanish in 1519.
She read one line which said "kill the gringos." Another talked about a plan to take back the U.S. Southwest and deport all the Europeans.
A closer look, at the book, though, showed the line about the gringos was a quote from someone referenced. And that the plan to take back the area was not urging current action but instead detailing one pushed by Mexico in 1915.
Leighton, however, said she and others who reviewed the course work believe it is unacceptable.
"We find hate and revolution is being taught in their books," she testified. "We found a denigration and disparagement of American values and a subversion of our history."
Anna Graves said she believes schools are promoting a double standard with such programs.
"If we were to have a group of white citizens teaching white culture only for the white children, it would be totally and absolutely inappropriate in a country that is a country of diversity," said Graves, a Mexican immigrant now a U.S. citizen.
"I absolute deplore people who come from another country and do not want anything to do with the culture, the language or anything that has to do with the government," Graves said. She said they are in this country to send back money to relatives elsewhere and "are not here to provide loyalty."
Rep. Peter Rios, D-Dudleyville, said that kind of attitude ignores the United States as a "culture of diversity."
"What is the downside of students learning about their culture along with the American culture, value and mores?" he asked. Graves said nothing - as long as it's not just Hispanic culture being taught.
More to the point, Graves said it's the job of parents to teach children about their own ethnic background and culture.
"Not everybody had what you had," Rios responded. "So some of these children have to pick up some of this positive self-image building at the school because they're not getting it at home, they're not getting it in the barrios of the neighborhood."
And Rios suggested there was a reason to have programs aimed at teaching Hispanic youngsters about their heritage.
"At the end of the day, we all know the history books are written by the victors," he said. "And we didn't win too many of our battles coming from a Hispanic culture."
Pearce said nothing in the Legislature precludes teaching about various cultures. What he opposes, he said, are the "hateful, despicable comments" becoming part of public education. What would be illegal, Pearce said, are "race-based" classes.
"Nobody would stand here, I suspect, and try to defend the KKK teachings at a Tucson school or anywhere else," he said.
House Minority Leader Phil Lopes, D-Tucson, said lawmakers should butt out of the controversy. He said decisions of curriculum should be left to local school boards.
But Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Gilbert, said lawmakers are entitled to regulate the use of tax dollars taken from Arizonans and "demand that our publicly funded education teach and inculcate our youth, our children with the values that make America what it is, the greatest and most free nation in the world."
Biggs, however, conceded the language of what would be prohibited is "somewhat vague" and probably needs work.
Rep. David Schapira, D-Tempe, said it is more than vague. He questioned what it means to "overtly encourage dissent" from the values of American democracy and Western civilization.
School board and superintendents' lobbyists signed in as opposed to the measure but did not speak. Nor did Sam Polito, Tempe schools lobbyist, saying it made no sense to try to derail Pearce's bill in a committee he chairs.
Blind nationalism is, but not all nationalism. It was Saint George's Day yesterday. Literally nothing was done to celebrate it, while Scotland and Wales celebrate their patron saint days like motherfuckers.
Pearce said nothing in the Legislature precludes teaching about various cultures. What he opposes, he said, are the "hateful, despicable comments" becoming part of public education. What would be illegal, Pearce said, are "race-based" classes.
"Nobody would stand here, I suspect, and try to defend the KKK teachings at a Tucson school or anywhere else," he said.
Fla. Teacher Accused Of Wizardry
Man Made Toothpick Vanish In Class
LAND 'O LAKES, Fla. -- A substitute teacher in Pasco County has lost his job after being accused of wizardry.
Teacher Jim Piculas does a magic trick where a toothpick disappears and then reappears.
Piculas recently did the 30-second trick in front of a classroom at Rushe Middle School in Land 'O Lakes.
Piculas said he then got a call from the supervisor of teachers, saying he'd been accused of wizardry.
"I get a call the middle of the day from head of supervisor of substitute teachers. He says, 'Jim, we have a huge issue, you can't take any more assignments you need to come in right away,'" he said.
Piculas said he did not know f any other accusations that would have led to the action.
The teacher said he is concerned that the incident may prevent him from getting future jobs.
"Well, Mr. Piculas, we've looked over your resume, and we think you are more than qualified to work for us. Although, we have one question about your last job, it's a little vague here. Why were you terminated?"
Comments
I think it's great that Paris has completely overshadowed Lewinsky with anything sex related.
I looked this up after reading about Guillermo Vargas' art exhibit last year, and how he's been invited to do it again. If you have a facebook you might want to read about that, that's the really fucked up news that caught my attention in the first place.
I've been surrounded by artists for a big part of my life-- I go to an arts school, my boyfriend is majoring in art and wants to do it for the rest of his life.. and yet it's sad that this kind of art is competing to be in the same qualification of art my friends produce. Sure, it was only a stray dog, but I just think that using death to symbolize death isn't the right thing to do. I know the dog story is a lot different from this story, but since both are involving death for art in order to make a point, I figured I'd post them.
That I'm actually not sure about either. In that article it said that the dog escaped, but there are other articles (there are links on the facebook page) that have quotes from Vargas saying the dog actually died the day after the exhibit due to the lack of food, but that he would have died anyway since he was sick and didn't want to eat in the first place.
The whole thing smacks of publicity attempt. If he really wanted the dog to stay there and die, it would've been secured with something far more sturdy than string.
Pretty half-arsed as art goes, by my reckoning, but a savvy bit of media manipulation.
He's just a failure as an artist saying "Hey, look what I can do without hopefully getting in trouble!...Buy something from me!"
There's a fine line between art and obscenity for many people. For this case, that's just obscenity to me. Art is about creating, using the world around you, and expressing yourself with colors and shapes. It's not about taking something that already exists, and throwing it in a display case.
For the dog, as far as I can tell from Mish, you said it was really sick anyways? And it wouldn't want to eat anyways? Then that's fine, if that's true. It's like having an aneorexic person die of starvation, then having their parents get sued for not feeding them.
Furthermore, I'm in agreement that this is not art. This is a little more than a cheap attempt to shock people and gain a lot of publicity. The art value is roughly equivalent to turning the Rick Roll thing into a screamer video thing. Only using death instead of pure annoyance.
As for death... I really can't deal with that right now. I think that living an average of 80 years already is way too short, there's just way too much to experience and learn in the world. I have too much I want to do, and I don't want to think about not having the time to do it.
You know, there are two universal truths about life. Everyone dies, and everyone pays taxes. Why doesn't he do some modern art about taxes? Show the beauty of...tax.
This is my contribution to the "beauty of... tax." A little too avant-garde?
But... the KKK aren't a race!
*repels instantly any complaints about Australia by citing the fact that we finally voted in a Labour government under Kevin Rudd*
Stop shattering people's dreams!
I don't know what to say.
"Well, Mr. Piculas, we've looked over your resume, and we think you are more than qualified to work for us. Although, we have one question about your last job, it's a little vague here. Why were you terminated?"
"...wizardry."
"Wizardry?"
"I'm a wizard."